"To protect against microbial squatters, a biomimic would look for clues in the skins of organisms that manage to keep themselves slime-free. Red and green algae (kelp) are able to stabilize a normally reactive compound called bromine in a way that fends off microbes without harming the alga. Nalco engineer William McCoy borrowed this stabilization recipe to create Stabrex™, a chlorine alternative that keeps industrial cooling systems microbe-free. Other models for antimicrobial excretions include olive trees, biscuit roots, lichen, and fungal-tending ants." (Biomimicry Guild unpublished report)Learn more about this functional adaptation.